CHRISTMAS at the Evening Star just got happier - with a generous £500 donation for our Lifesaver appeal.

CHRISTMAS at the Evening Star just got happier - with a generous £500 donation for our Lifesaver appeal.

Felixstowe company Trader Shipping has boosted our annual Christmas appeal by including it in a round of festive hand-outs.

The freight forwarding company, celebrating its 25th year in business this year, has handed out £6,500 to good causes.

Cheques for £500 were also given to Ipswich's St Elizabeth Hospice and Felixstowe's Level 2 Youth Project. Also, £5,000 was given to national and international charities.

Gordon Fisher, managing director of the company at Carr Road Commercial Centre, said: “We give out donations each Christmas and were happy to support Lifesaver this year.

“It's of particular relevance to me as my father died of a heart attack and of course many others are affected by heart attacks.

“Ipswich Hospital is a major lifeline in our area.”

Lifesaver: Evening Star Christmas Appeal 2006 aims to raise £22,000 for a cardiac ultrasound machine for Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department.

The machine quickly helps doctors diagnose acute cardiac conditions, including heart failure, and is expected to help around 1,000 people every year.

Currently, the hospital relies on older technology. The state-of-the-art machine can also do other ultrasound scans besides those for the heart.

Members of the East of England Co-operative Society can help by quoting the dividend number 977 at the till.

n If you would like to support the appeal, send cheques made out to Lifesaver: Evening Star Christmas Appeal 2006, to 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN. You can also donate online.

n Have you thought of holding a fundraising event to help our appeal? Call Hazel Byford on 01473 324788, or e-mail her at hazel.byford@eveningtstar.co.uk

Weblinks:

www.tradership.com

www.eveningstar.co.uk/lifesaver

HUNDREDS of pounds have been raised for the Lifesaver appeal at a carol service in Ipswich.

Members of the community joined at St Margaret's Church, Bolton Lane, on Monday for The Evening Star's annual festive service.

Ticket sales and a collection among the 300-strong congregation raised an amazing £788.

Children from Sprites Primary School joined the Ipswich and Norwich Co-op Brass Band to perform an array of classic carols at the event, accompanied by the Ipswich Deaf Signing Choir.

The service was led by Reverend Canon David Cutts and guests who gave readings included Jan Rowsell, head of communications at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Carolyne Morey, project director at the charity Disability Care Enterprise and Malcolm Alcock, the Star's readers' ombudsman.